Tim Tebow reportedly punted when it came to addressing white supremacist Richard Spencer showing up at his alma mater.

As University of Florida officials were preparing for their campus to host white supremacist Richard Spencer last month, they turned to alum Tim Tebow in an effort to bring the school together.

According to the Sun Sentinel, Nancy Chrystal-Green, senior director of student engagement at the University of Florida, worked with the athletic department to get a message to the former quarterback in early October while he was in the area around the time to shoot ESPN's "SEC Nation."

"One of the things we are doing is showing a virtual assembly during the speech," said Chrystal-Green. "We are getting in contact with famous alums asking to record a brief message of unity, togetherness, Gator Nation, etc.

A state of emergency was declared three days before the event by Florida Gov. Rick Scott to allow for increased law enforcement due to fears of violence.

(Brian Blanco/Getty Images)

However, despite leading his Gators to two championships, Tebow reportedly declined, choosing to remain on the sidelines.

Along with prompting school officials to try and band together, Spencer's Oct. 19 event would also lead to Florida Gov. Rick Scott declaring a state of emergency in Alachua County.

Now a meme on the internet after he got punched in the head, the white supremacist previously headlined the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Va., in August, where a Nazi killed protester Heather Heyer by driving his car into a crowd of people.

Even without Tebow in the huddle though, several hundred protesters showed up to counter Spencer's speech thanks in part to the student body-made Facebook group "No Nazis at UF," whose slogan was "Gators Chomp Nazis."